“The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting” ― Andy Warhol

Anticipating an event can be bothersome at times. For me, waiting in anticipation for anything can be a time full of nerves. Most of the time, I have been waiting with mixed emotions for something to start, and when it does, I almost always enjoy it.

Sports are a huge passion of mine, and something that I take very seriously. Once a sports season finishes, it seems like a millennium before the next one begins. Before the new one starts, I feel compelled to pick up a stick, and start practicing for it. Instantly, the joy I receive from sports comes back to me. That joy is fuel and inspiration to start preparing for the upcoming season.

Of course, sports are not my only passion. I have many more passions in my life like; reading, sometimes writing, and spending time with family and friends. But in life, however; there are some things that we are uncomfortable with, and these can be events we do not look forward to. Sometimes these events are nerve-racking, and we must push ourselves to try them.

For me, I did not enjoy leaving my home for a long time, and not being able to see my family for a while. I hardly ever did sleepovers with friends at their homes, because I would get homesick. When I was nine, my brother and I decided we wanted to go to sleepaway camp. My parents looked into possible camps for us, and decided they would send us to a camp in Maine. They warned me that I did not have to go, saying that I could get homesick, and I should really think this decision through. I insisted that I would be fine. In the end I decided to go for half session, which was three and a half weeks long. They signed us up, and we were all set for the summer.

There were times where I knew I would love the camp, and others times where I begged and pleaded my parents not to send me. They had already paid the money for it; there was no option.

Before I was sent off to camp with my brother Jake, my mom told me to go into camp with a good attitude, and said I could always come home if I was too homesick. She told me to at least give it a try. That is exactly what I did, and her advice paid off. I ended up having the greatest time of my life, and I have been going to that very same camp every summer since.

If there is one thing to take away from my experience, it would be to take risks, and to go into situations with a positive attitude.

There is always a chance you will enjoy something, so give yourself the best chance to enjoy it.